Culture & Etiquette

1. Mba'e ningo pe tembiapo?

   Mba-'e nin-go pe tem-bia-po

   What is this event/ceremony?

   Usage

   Ask about a local festival or cultural ceremony

   Grammar Note

   "pe" is a demonstrative meaning "that/this". Word order is flexible in Guaraní

2. Ahayhu Paraguay ñe'ẽ

   A-hay-hu Pa-ra-guay ñe-'ẽ

   I love the Guaraní language

   Usage

   Expressing love for the language; locals appreciate this

   Grammar Note

   The 1sg subject prefix is "a-", giving ahayhu (I love it). "ro-" is the dedicated 1sg→2sg form and cannot take a language or a thing as its object

3. Mba'épa ojehu ko fiesta-pe?

   Mba-'é-pa o-je-hu ko fies-ta-pe

   What happens at this festival?

   Usage

   Ask about the program of a local festival

   Grammar Note

   Spanish loanword "fiesta" with the locative suffix "-pe" — typical code-mixing in Paraguay

4. Mba'épa jamonde va'erã?

   Mba-'é-pa ja-mon-de va-'e-rã?

   What should we wear?

   Usage

   Confirm appropriate dress code for a cultural or religious event

   Grammar Note

   "To wear" is "monde", as in "Oipota amonde" (he wants me to put it on). "ja-" is the prefix for "we". "jaipota" only means "we want" and never "we wear"

5. Ndaipotái ajapo mba'e vai

   Nda-i-po-tái a-ja-po mba-'e vai

   I don't want to be disrespectful

   Usage

   Show cultural sensitivity and intention to respect local customs

   Grammar Note

   "Nda-…-i" is the negative frame. "mba'e vai" means "something bad"

6. Mba'épa he'i ko ñe'ẽ?

   Mba-'é-pa he-'i ko ñe-'ẽ

   What does this word mean?

   Usage

   Ask about the meaning of a Guaraní word

   Grammar Note

   "ko" is the proximal demonstrative (this); "pe" is the distal (that)

7. Che mandu'a porãite Paraguay-pe

   Che man-du-'a po-rã-i-te Pa-ra-guay-pe

   My memories in Paraguay are wonderful

   Usage

   Share positive travel impressions with locals

   Grammar Note

   "mandu'a" (to remember / memory) is a che-class word taking a possessive pronoun ("che mandu'a"). "-rã" is the prospective suffix, so "rekorã" means "the life to come", not a memory

8. Ahechase ko tetã ypykue

   A-he-cha-se ko te-tã y-py-kue

   I want to see the indigenous heritage sites

   Usage

   Express interest in visiting indigenous heritage or archaeological sites

   Grammar Note

   "-se" is the desiderative suffix; the 1sg takes "a-", giving ahechase (I want to see). "ro-" is the 1sg→2sg form and cannot govern "heritage sites". Since the speaker is a visitor, "ko tetã" (this country) replaces "our homeland"

9. Mba'épa oñembojerure ko tenda-pe?

   Mba-'é-pa o-ñem-bo-je-ru-re ko ten-da-pe

   What is required/expected at this place?

   Usage

   Ask about rules or etiquette at a sacred or official venue

   Grammar Note

   "oñe-" is a reflexive/passive prefix; "-pe" is the locative case suffix

10. Aguyje iterei ne mborayhúre

    A-guy-je i-te-rei ne mbo-ray-hú-re

    Thank you very much for your hospitality

    Usage

    Express deep gratitude after being hosted by a local family or community

    Grammar Note

    "iterei" is an intensifier adverb; "-re" is a postposition meaning "for/about"

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